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Soufiane El Bakkali stays just 3 seconds above the world record in the 3000m steeple. The Swiss Lore Hoffmann finished 6th over 800 m.
On the track
Local hero Soufiane El Bakkali was almost celebrated even more at the second Diamond League meeting in Rabat. In his home country, the Moroccan put his foot down from the start and pushed for a fast race. With his 7:56.68 minutes, he stayed about one and a half seconds below his personal best, but was not happy at the finish line. He missed Saif Saaeed Shaheen’s record from 2004 by 3 seconds and 5 hundredths. Nevertheless, it was superior enough to win the meeting record. Getnet Wale (ETH) was second (8:05.15), Abraham Kibiwot (KEN) third (8:05.51).
Switzerland’s Lore Hoffmann showed an average run and finished sixth with a time of 2:01.37 minutes. It is her fastest time in the young season, on the home stretch the 26-year-old was able to catch 2 runners. At the front, Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Australia’s Catriona Bisset went neck and neck – with the former finishing better. Moraa finished in 1:58.82 and Bisset in 2:00.11. Third was the American Sage Hurta-Klecker (2:00.62).
Sprint star Fred Kerley has won the 100m race. The world champion set a meeting record of 9.94 seconds in the Moroccan capital on Sunday, beating Akani Simbine from South Africa (9.99) and Kenyan African champion Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05). The eagerly awaited duel between American Kerley and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs was canceled due to the Italian’s back problems.
The women’s 200 m was won by world champion Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican also ran a meeting record in 21.98 seconds. Second was Anthonique Strachan from the Bahamas (22.15), the USA’s Tamari Davis completed the podium (22.30).
Gudaf Tsegay celebrated the most in the Ethiopian quadruple victory over 1500m. She smashed the meeting record with her time of 3:54.03. Her competitors and compatriots Freweyni Hailu, Birke Haylom and Worknesh Mesele distanced her by three and a half seconds and more.
In the oval
Leyanis Perez Hernandez celebrated her biggest career success to date in the triple jump competition in Rabat. With 14.84 m, the Cuban prevailed just ahead of the Ukrainian Maryna Bech-Romantschuk (14.65) and the Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts (14.53).
There was no herb against the Slovenian Kristjan Ceh. With 70.32 meters he won the meeting in Rabat. The Swede Daniel Stahl (69.21) came close to Ceh, but in the end even his best time of the season was not enough for first place. The Lithuanian Andrius Gudzius (66.04) completed the podium.